Festival
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, festivals hold significant religious, cultural, and historical importance. They are divinely instituted occasions for worship, remembrance, and community gathering, often marked by specific rituals and sacrifices. The festivals in the Bible serve as a means for the Israelites to commemorate God's mighty acts, express gratitude, and renew their covenant relationship with Him.

Old Testament Festivals

The Old Testament outlines several key festivals that the Israelites were commanded to observe. These festivals are primarily detailed in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They include:

1. Passover (Pesach): Instituted in Exodus 12, Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It marks the beginning of the Jewish religious calendar and involves the sacrifice of a lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Directly following Passover, this seven-day festival involves eating unleavened bread to remember the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt. "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses" (Exodus 12:15).

3. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, this festival marks the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. "You are to count off seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering" (Leviticus 23:15).

4. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): This festival marks the beginning of the civil year and is a time of reflection and repentance. "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts" (Leviticus 23:24).

5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, it is the most sacred day of the Jewish year. "This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves and not do any work" (Leviticus 16:29).

6. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This week-long festival celebrates the harvest and commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days" (Leviticus 23:34).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples observed these Jewish festivals, which often provided the backdrop for His teachings and miracles. For instance, Jesus' crucifixion coincided with Passover, symbolizing Him as the ultimate Passover Lamb. "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, is notably significant in the New Testament as the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, marking the birth of the Church. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place" (Acts 2:1).

Christian Observance

While the early Church initially observed Jewish festivals, over time, distinct Christian festivals developed, such as Easter and Christmas, to commemorate the resurrection and birth of Jesus Christ, respectively. These festivals continue to be central to Christian worship and community life, serving as times of reflection, celebration, and renewal of faith.

In summary, biblical festivals are deeply rooted in the narrative of God's redemptive work and serve as enduring reminders of His faithfulness and provision throughout history.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(a.) Pertaining to a fest; festive; festal; appropriate to a festival; joyous; mirthful.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FESTIVAL

fes'-ti-val.

See FEASTS AND FASTS.

Greek
1859. heorte -- a feast, a festival
... a feast, a festival. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: heorte Phonetic
Spelling: (heh-or-tay') Short Definition: a festival, feast Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1859.htm - 6k

1858b. heortazo -- to celebrate a festival
... 1858a, 1858b. heortazo. 1859 . to celebrate a festival. Transliteration:
heortazo Short Definition: celebrate. Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1858b.htm - 5k

2970. komos -- a village festival, revel
... a village festival, revel. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: komos
Phonetic Spelling: (ko'-mos) Short Definition: a feasting, reveling Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2970.htm - 7k

4005. pentekoste -- fiftieth, Pentecost, the second of the three ...
... 4005 (from 4002 , "five") -- properly , referring to the festival of --
a festival celebrated at the end of the barley harvest. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4005.htm - 7k

3561. noumenia -- new moon.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: noumenia Phonetic Spelling:
(noo-may-nee'-ah) Short Definition: the new moon as a festival Definition: the new ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3561.htm - 6k

4634. skenopegia -- the setting up of tents
... skenopegia Phonetic Spelling: (skay-nop-ayg-ee'-ah) Short Definition: the feast
of tabernacles Definition: the feast of tabernacles, the great festival of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4634.htm - 6k

3831. paneguris -- a festal assembly
... festal assembly. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paneguris Phonetic
Spelling: (pan-ay'-goo-ris) Short Definition: a festival assembly Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3831.htm - 7k

1858. heortazo -- to be like
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: heortazo Phonetic Spelling: (heh-or-tad'-zo) Short
Definition: I keep a feast Definition: I take part in a festival, keep a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1858.htm - 5k

3957. pascha -- the Passover, the Passover supper or lamb
... Passover. Of Chaldee origin (compare pecach); the Passover (the meal, the day, the
festival or the special sacrifices connected with it) -- Easter, Passover. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3957.htm - 6k

2121. eukairos -- timely
... eukairos Phonetic Spelling: (yoo'-kahee-ros) Short Definition: timely, suitable
Definition: opportune, timely, suitable; perhaps sometimes: holiday, festival. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2121.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
2282. chag -- a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
... 2281, 2282. chag. 2283 . a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast.
Transliteration: chag Phonetic Spelling: (khag) Short Definition: feast. ...
/hebrew/2282.htm - 6k

2287. chagag -- to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast
... root Definition to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast NASB Word Usage celebrate
(9), celebrate a feast (3), dancing (1), keeping festival (1), observe (1 ...
/hebrew/2287.htm - 6k

4150. moed -- appointed time, place, or meeting
... yaad Definition appointed time, place, or meeting NASB Word Usage appointed (3),
appointed feast (3), appointed feasts (11), appointed festival (2), appointed ...
/hebrew/4150.htm - 7k

1974. hillul -- a rejoicing, praise
... 1973, 1974. hillul. 1975 . a rejoicing, praise. Transliteration: hillul
Phonetic Spelling: (hil-lool') Short Definition: festival. ...
/hebrew/1974.htm - 6k

8057. simchah -- joy, gladness, mirth
... Word Origin from samach Definition joy, gladness, mirth NASB Word Usage delight
(1), exceeding joy (1), extremely* (1), festival (1), gladness (34), happiness ...
/hebrew/8057.htm - 6k

3104. yobel -- a ram, ram's horn (a wind instrument)
... the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically, the signal of the
silver trumpets; hence, the instrument itself and the festival thus introduced ...
/hebrew/3104.htm - 6k

6116. atsarah -- an assembly
... solemn assembly meeting. Or matsereth {ats-eh'-reth}; from atsar; an assembly,
especially on a festival or holiday -- (solemn) assembly (meeting). ...
/hebrew/6116.htm - 6k

6453. pesach -- passover
... passover offering. From pacach; a pretermission, ie Exemption; used only techically
of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim) -- passover (offering). ...
/hebrew/6453.htm - 6k

4682. matstsah -- unleavened bread or cake
... sweetness; concretely, sweet (ie Not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically,
an unfermented cake or loaf, or (elliptically) the festival of Passover ...
/hebrew/4682.htm - 6k

3677. kese -- full moon
... time appointed. Or keceh {keh'-seh}; apparently from kacah; properly, fulness or
the full moon, ie Its festival -- (time) appointed. see HEBREW kacah. ...
/hebrew/3677.htm - 6k

Library

The Festival of the Birth-Day of Manich??us.
... Against the Epistle of Manich??us Called Fundamental. Chapter 8. "The
Festival of the Birth-Day of Manich??us. 9. In adding the ...
/.../chapter 8 name festival of.htm

On the Festival of the Nativity, viii.
... Sermons. Sermon XXVIII. On the Festival of the Nativity, VIII. On the Festival of
the Nativity, VIII. I. The Incarnation an unceasing source of joy. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xxviii on the festival.htm

Motets for Festival Occasions
... No. 254 MOTETS FOR FESTIVAL OCCASIONS. MOTETS FOR FESTIVAL OCCASIONS Laudate Dominum.
Unison, two or four part chorus Fr. Schubert Arr. by NAM. Allegro moderato ...
/.../the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 254 motets for festival.htm

The Festival of Games, in Honor of Augustus, were About to Begin ...
... CHAPTER 24 The festival of games, in honor of Augustus, were about to begin
at Caesarea.? The festival of games, in honor of Augustus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 24 the festival of.htm

Hymns, Festival and Occasional.
... CHAPTER XIII. HYMNS, FESTIVAL AND OCCASIONAL. CHRISTMAS. "ADESTE FIDELES.".
This hymn is of doubtful authorship, by some assigned ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiii hymns festival and.htm

On a Special Christian Festival Occasion.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXLIX. On a special Christian Festival Occasion. 8.6.8.6
James Montgomery. On a special Christian Festival Occasion. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxlix on a special.htm

Epistle xiv. --From his Fourth Festival Epistle.
... Part II."Containing Epistles, or Fragments of Epistles. Epistle
XIV."From His Fourth Festival Epistle. Love is altogether and ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/epistle xiv from his fourth festival.htm

CMJ Weiss. For a Summer Festival.
... 459. CMJ Weiss. For a Summer Festival. 1 Beneath Thy trees to-day we met, Amid Thy
summer flowers; And every heart is blessing yet These happy, fleeting hours. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/459 c m j weiss.htm

Another Heresy, that of the Sabbatians, is Originated by the ...
... originated by the Novatians. Their Synod in Sangarus. Account in Greater
Detail of the Easter Festival. A division arose during ...
/.../chapter xviii another heresy that of.htm

And it came to Pass that the Festival of the Dedication was at ...
... Chapter 2. And it came to pass that the festival of the dedication was at hand?
And it came to pass that the festival of the dedication ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of the nativity of mary/chapter 2 and it came.htm

Thesaurus
Festival (62 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Pertaining to a fest; festive; festal; appropriate
to a festival; joyous; mirthful. Int. ...FESTIVAL. fes'-ti-val. ...
/f/festival.htm - 23k

Festival-robes (2 Occurrences)
Festival-robes. Festival-day, Festival-robes. Festivals .
Multi-Version Concordance Festival-robes (2 Occurrences). ...
/f/festival-robes.htm - 7k

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)
Festival-day. Festival, Festival-day. Festival-robes . Multi-Version
Concordance Festival-day (1 Occurrence). Mark 14:2 But they ...
/f/festival-day.htm - 6k

Dionysia
... The demarch conducted the festival, the expenses of which were paid by
the deme. ... At this festival also the new wine was tasted. ...
/d/dionysia.htm - 10k

Purim (5 Occurrences)
... A lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose ...
/p/purim.htm - 16k

Holyday (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A religious festival. 2. (n.) A secular festival;
a holiday. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HOLYDAY. ...
/h/holyday.htm - 8k

Pur (3 Occurrences)
... A lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical
commemoration of Haman's consultation of the Pur (a Persian word), for the purpose ...
/p/pur.htm - 15k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... Ie, "fiftieth", found only in the New Testament (Acts 2:1; 20:16; 1 Corinthians
16:8). The festival so named is first spoken of in Exodus 23:16 as "the feast ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Easter (1 Occurrence)
... Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection
of Christ, which occured at the time of the Passover. ...
/e/easter.htm - 12k

Passover (81 Occurrences)
... The Jewish Passover 1. Pecach and Matstsoth: The Passover was the annual Hebrew
festival on the evening of the 14th day of the month of 'Abhibh (Abib) or Nisan ...
/p/passover.htm - 58k

Resources
What is the Diwali festival in Hinduism? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians participate in religious festivals of other religions? | GotQuestions.org

Did Jesus lie to His brothers in John 7:8 10? | GotQuestions.org

Festival: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Festival (62 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:5
But they said, "Not during the Festival, lest there be a riot among the people."
(WEY NAS)

Matthew 27:15
"Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;
(WEY)

Mark 14:2
But they said, "Not on the Festival-day, for fear there should be a riot among the people."
(WEY NAS)

Mark 15:6
Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment;
(WEY)

Luke 22:1
Meanwhile the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
(WEY)

John 2:23
Now when He was in Jerusalem, at the Festival of the Passover, many became believers in Him through watching the miracles He performed.
(WEY)

John 4:45
When however He reached Galilee, the Galilaeans welcomed Him eagerly, having been eye-witnesses of all that He had done in Jerusalem at the Festival; for they also had been to the Festival.
(WEY)

John 5:1
After this there was a Festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
(WEY)

John 6:4
The Jewish Festival, the Passover, was at hand.
(WEY)

John 7:2
But the Jewish Festival of the Tent-Pitching was approaching.
(WEY)

John 7:8
As for you, go up to the Festival. I do not now go up to this Festival, because my time is not yet fully come."
(WEY)

John 7:10
When however His brothers had gone up to the Festival, then He also went up, not openly, but as it were privately.
(WEY)

John 7:11
Meanwhile the Jews at the Festival were looking for Him and were inquiring, "Where is he?"
(WEY)

John 7:14
But when the Festival was already half over, Jesus went up to the Temple and commenced teaching.
(WEY)

John 7:37
On the last day of the Festival--the great day--Jesus stood up and cried aloud. "Whoever is thirsty," He said, "let him come to me and drink.
(WEY)

John 10:22
The Dedication Festival came on in Jerusalem. It was winter,
(WEY)

John 11:56
They therefore looked out for Jesus, and asked one another as they stood in the Temple, "What do you think? --will he come to the Festival at all?"
(WEY)

John 12:12
The next day a great crowd of those who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
(WEY)

John 12:20
Now some of those who used to come up to worship at the Festival were Greeks.
(WEY)

John 13:29
Some, however, supposed that because Judas had the money-box Jesus meant, "Buy what we require for the Festival," or that he should give something to the poor.
(WEY)

Acts 2:1
At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met in one place;
(WEY)

Acts 20:16
For Paul's plan was to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend much time in the province of Asia; since he was very desirous of being in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of the Harvest Festival.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep our festival not with old yeast nor with the yeast of what is evil and mischievous, but with bread free from yeast--the bread of transparent sincerity and of truth.
(WEY RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 16:8
I shall remain in Ephesus, however, until the time of the Harvest Festival,
(WEY)

Colossians 2:16
Therefore suffer no one to sit in judgement on you as to eating or drinking or with regard to a festival, a new moon or a sabbath.
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 5:1
Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says,'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"
(See NIV)

Exodus 10:9
And Moses saith, 'With our young ones, and with our aged ones, we go, with our sons, and with our daughters, with our flock, and our herd, we go, for we have a festival to Jehovah.'
(YLT NIV)

Exodus 12:14
This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
(See NIV)

Exodus 13:6
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Yahweh.
(See NIV)

Exodus 23:14
"You shall observe a feast to me three times a year.
(See NIV)

Exodus 23:18
Thou dost not sacrifice on a fermented thing the blood of My sacrifice, and the fat of My festival doth not remain till morning;
(YLT NIV)

Exodus 32:5
And Aaron seeth, and buildeth an altar before it, and Aaron calleth, and saith, 'A festival to Jehovah -- to-morrow;'
(YLT NIV)

Leviticus 23:39
"'So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 23:41
You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month.
(See NIV)

Numbers 15:3
and will make an offering by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, of the herd, or of the flock;
(See NIV)

Numbers 28:17
and in the fifteenth day of this month 'is' a festival, seven days unleavened food is eaten;
(YLT NIV(

Numbers 29:12
And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month a holy convocation ye have; ye do no servile work; and ye have celebrated a festival to Jehovah seven days,
(YLT NIV)

Judges 9:27
They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 21:19
And they say, 'Lo, a festival of Jehovah 'is' in Shiloh, from time to time, which 'is' on the north of Beth-El, at the rising of the sun, by the highway which is going up from Beth-El to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.'
(YLT NIV)

1 Samuel 20:5
David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 20:18
Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon: and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 20:24
So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 8:2
and all the men of Israel are assembled unto king Solomon, in the month of Ethanim, in the festival -- 'is' the seventh month.
(YLT NIV)

1 Kings 8:65
And Solomon maketh, at that time, the festival -- and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entering in of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt -- before Jehovah our God, seven days and seven days; fourteen days.
(YLT NIV)

1 Kings 12:32
and Jeroboam maketh a festival in the eighth month, in the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that 'is' in Judah, and he offereth on the altar -- so did he in Beth-El -- to sacrifice to the calves which he made, and he hath appointed in Beth-El the priests of the high places that he made.
(YLT NIV)

1 Kings 12:33
And he offereth up on the altar that he made in Beth-El, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he devised of his own heart, and he maketh a festival to the sons of Israel, and offereth on the altar -- to make perfume.
(YLT NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:8
So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:9
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 30:22
And Hezekiah speaketh unto the heart of all the Levites, those giving good understanding concerning Jehovah, and they eat the appointed thing seven days; sacrificing sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, God of their fathers.
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 30:23
The whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness.
(See NIV)

Nehemiah 8:12
All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
(See NAS)

Psalms 42:4
These I remember, and pour out my soul in me, For I pass over into the booth, I go softly with them unto the house of God, With the voice of singing and confession, The multitude keeping feast!
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 81:3
Blow in the month a trumpet, In the new moon, at the day of our festival,
(YLT)

Psalms 118:27
Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
(See JPS NAS)

Isaiah 3:22
the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;
(ASV DBY)

Isaiah 30:29
Singing is to you as in a night sanctified for a festival, And joy of heart as he who is going with a pipe, To go in to the mountain of Jehovah, Unto the rock of Israel.
(YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 45:23
The seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to Yahweh, seven bulls and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering.
(See RSV)

Hosea 2:11
And I have caused to cease all her joy, Her festival, her new moon, and her sabbath, Even all her appointed times,
(YLT NIV)

Hosea 9:5
What do ye at the day appointed? And at the day of Jehovah's festival?
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 12:9
"But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
(See NAS)

Zephaniah 3:18
I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you.
(See RSV)

Malachi 2:3
Lo, I am pushing away before you the seed, And have scattered dung before your faces, Dung of your festivals, And it hath taken you away with it.
(Root in YLT NIV)

Subtopics

Festival

Related Terms

Festival (62 Occurrences)

Octave (3 Occurrences)

Festival-robes (2 Occurrences)

Child (355 Occurrences)

Haggai (14 Occurrences)

Holiday (5 Occurrences)

Fear (970 Occurrences)

Greece (15 Occurrences)

Ancient (64 Occurrences)

Religion (23 Occurrences)

Festering
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